**Denia Community Leader Urges UN Peacekeepers to Enhance Visibility in Buffer Zone**
Denia, Cyprus – Charalambos Alexandrou, the community leader of Denia village, has called on the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus (Unficyp) to increase its visibility in the area surrounding his village. This request was made during a meeting with Unficyp's chief, Khassim Diagne, held on Thursday.
Alexandrou expressed concerns regarding ongoing violations of the buffer zone, particularly from the Turkish side, and emphasized the need for a more active presence from Unficyp to address these issues. “We asked Diagne to make the presence of Unficyp more noticeable, so as to reduce violations by the Turkish side as much as possible,” he stated. He suggested that this could be achieved through increased patrols and intervention in incidents occurring within the buffer zone.
During the meeting, Alexandrou and other members of the village council presented their concerns, particularly those of local farmers. However, Diagne responded that Unficyp faces limitations, stating, “they cannot do more” and “cannot use force” to deter violations. Alexandrou noted that while the frequency of Turkish violations remains consistent, incidents continue to occur at certain points, raising the potential for more serious problems in the future.
Diagne acknowledged the challenges faced by Unficyp, including an issue of understaffing, and indicated that he would work towards making the UN's presence more noticeable in the region. He mentioned that he would need time to implement any changes.
Tensions in the buffer zone have been a longstanding issue, with recent conflicts primarily centered around the village of Pyla. However, the area between Nicosia and Morphou, where Denia is located, has also experienced its share of disputes. Earlier this year, disagreements arose between Greek Cypriot farmers and Turkish forces regarding the use of farmland near the village of Avlona, which lies to the north of Denia. These incidents have reportedly increased in frequency in recent months.
In response to these ongoing challenges, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated in July that Unficyp has developed an internal action plan aimed at addressing the situation sustainably and comprehensively. This plan includes measures to enhance stability in the buffer zone.
A notable incident occurred in April when Turkish Cypriot police mistakenly believed a Greek Cypriot farmer had crossed into the north, prompting an intervention by Unficyp peacekeepers to de-escalate the situation. Following clarification of the buffer zone's boundaries, the Turkish police returned to their side.
Unficyp spokesman Aleem Siddique remarked that the peacekeeping force is closely monitoring the situation with the goal of preventing tension and maintaining the status quo. He acknowledged the challenges posed by the lack of clear demarcation in the buffer zone, which has led to instances where farmers from both communities inadvertently cross into restricted areas.
In March, new signage was installed in Denia to better delineate the buffer zone. Siddique noted that these efforts are part of Unficyp's strategy to reinforce stability and improve public awareness of the buffer zone's boundaries, thereby minimizing accidental civilian access.
As the situation in the buffer zone continues to evolve, the Denia community remains hopeful that increased visibility and engagement from Unficyp will help mitigate tensions and foster a more secure environment for local farmers and residents.